Operation Sindhu: Big Diplomatic Win For India ! Iran Opens Airspace to Facilitate Return of 1000 Indian Students

Iran made a big diplomatic move by letting Indian evacuation planes use its airspace. This made it possible for over 1,000 Indian students who were stuck in the conflict-torn area to safely return home. This is part of Operation Sindhu, India's emergency evacuation effort to bring its citizens back from war-torn areas in Iran and the surrounding areas.

Tonight, the first batch comes in.

Government sources say that late Friday night, around 11:00 PM IST, a special private flight with about 1,000 Indian students is going to land in Delhi. These students were mostly in medical school in Mashhad and other towns in Iran. They were stuck because of limited air travel because of rising tensions between Iran and Israel. In a region where things are often unstable, Iran's choice to let Indian planes fly through its airspace is a humanitarian act.

On Saturday, there will be two more planes, one in the morning and one in the evening. This is part of Operation Sindhu's phased evacuation plan.

What does Operation Sindhu mean?

Operation Sindhu, which began on June 18, is India's plan to get its people, especially students, out of Iran because the security situation there is getting worse. The action started with the safe evacuation of 110 students from Urmia. They were taken through Armenia and arrived in Delhi early on June 19.

The name "Sindhu" comes from the historical and cultural ties between India and the rest of the area. It also shows that India is committed to protecting its citizens, no matter what the political or geographical challenges may be.

The High Point of Diplomatic Coordination

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) thanked the Iranian government very much for working with them. The Indian embassy in Tehran and consulates in other Iranian cities have been working nonstop to make sure that evacuation plans go smoothly, connect with families, and plan logistics.

India has also set up helplines and control rooms to help families and kids. Diplomatic talks have been held with Armenia and Turkmenistan to set up alternative land and air evacuation paths in case they are needed.

Students Talk About Their Experience

Students who were evacuated have said that they lived in constant fear and had close calls with air strikes. "Our classes were canceled, and the sound of drones was constant," a Mashhad medical student in their last year said. Their stories make clear how important and urgent this flight is.

Operation Sindhu is also being spread to Israel, where a lot of Indian students and workers live and work. India wants to copy the successful helicopter model there to show how concerned it is about the safety of its citizens while they are traveling abroad.